Kalen’s sword flared to life, the cold flames of icefire illuminating the dark chamber. The monstrous shapes that emerged from the shadows twisted and writhed, their forms constantly shifting. Each was a grotesque amalgamation of darkness—void-spawned creatures designed to test the strength of anyone foolish enough to seek the Tome of Shadows.

The first creature lunged, its form a mass of swirling darkness with sharp, jagged tendrils. Kalen sidestepped the attack, his sword slicing through the void energy as easily as flesh. The creature howled, dissolving into mist, but three more emerged from the shadows to take its place.

Kalen spun, his blade a blur as he parried and struck, each motion fluid and precise. He could feel the power of the void surging around him, pressing in on all sides. But his icefire burned bright, countering the encroaching darkness with its cold, steady light.

**“Focus.”** Kalen reminded himself. These creatures were nothing more than manifestations of the void’s will. They had no true substance, no real life force. Their purpose was to overwhelm, to break his concentration. But Kalen had faced worse—had stood against the abyssal forces before and survived.

One of the creatures reared up, its form shifting into a massive, clawed beast. Kalen met its charge head-on, his sword clashing against the creature’s claws in a shower of sparks. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, but Kalen stood firm, his muscles straining as he pushed back.

With a burst of energy, Kalen forced the creature back, his icefire flaring even brighter. He lashed out with his sword, severing the beast’s arm in one clean strike. It let out a roar of pain, its body dissolving into the shadows.

More creatures rose from the darkness, their forms becoming more complex, more dangerous. Some wielded weapons made of void energy, while others attacked with raw, elemental power—lightning, fire, and ice. Kalen’s movements became a blur of parries, dodges, and counterattacks, his focus honed to a razor’s edge.

But as the battle raged on, something became clear to Kalen. The shadows weren’t just mindless entities; they were reacting to him, learning from his movements. Each time he defeated one, the next would be more difficult, more attuned to his fighting style. It was as though the void itself was adapting to his strength.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Kalen gritted his teeth, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He had faced many powerful foes, but none like this. The void wasn’t just trying to kill him—it was trying to break him. To make him doubt his abilities, to make him question whether he could truly control the power he had taken.

But Kalen refused to yield. He had fought too hard, sacrificed too much to let the void win now. He called upon the depths of his cultivation, drawing forth both the icefire and the abyssal power that pulsed within him.

As the energy surged through his veins, Kalen felt a shift. The icefire and the void, once in constant conflict, began to move in harmony. His sword flared with both forces, a swirling mix of cold flames and dark energy. For the first time, the balance within him felt right—natural.

He unleashed the full force of his power, his sword cutting through the shadows with renewed strength. The creatures recoiled, unable to withstand the combined might of the icefire and the void. Kalen moved like a whirlwind, each strike precise, each step calculated.

One by one, the creatures fell, their forms dissolving into mist. The chamber grew still, the oppressive weight of the void lifting ever so slightly. Kalen stood in the center of the room, his chest heaving, his sword still glowing with the remnants of his power.

From the shadows, the figure reappeared, its form no longer shifting and indistinct. It was solid now, humanoid, though still cloaked in darkness. It regarded Kalen with what seemed like approval, its voice echoing through the chamber.

“You have proven yourself stronger than most,” the figure said, its tone cold but respectful. “Few have faced the void and lived. Fewer still have mastered its power as you have.”

Kalen lowered his sword, his eyes narrowing. “I didn’t come here for praise. I came for the Tome.”

The figure inclined its head. “And the Tome you shall have. But know this: the knowledge within it is both a gift and a curse. To truly master the void is to walk a path of solitude and madness. It will consume you if you are not careful.”

Kalen’s grip tightened on his sword, but he remained silent. He had already faced the dangers of the void, already felt its pull. But he wouldn’t let it control him. He had come too far to turn back now.

The figure stepped aside, gesturing to the Tome of Shadows. The ancient book still rested on the pedestal, its black leather cover pulsing faintly with energy. Kalen approached slowly, his heart pounding in his chest.

As his hand closed around the Tome, a surge of power shot through him. The void’s energy coursed through his veins, overwhelming and intoxicating. But beneath it, Kalen could feel the cold flames of his icefire, steady and unyielding. The balance he had fought so hard to achieve held firm.

With the Tome in hand, Kalen turned to leave the chamber. The figure watched him go, its form dissolving back into the shadows.

“You may have won this battle,” the figure’s voice echoed faintly, “but the void is eternal. It will always be a part of you.”

Kalen didn’t respond. He knew the truth of those words. The void had become a part of him, just as the icefire had. But he would control it. He would carve his own path, one that wasn’t dictated by the void or the sects that sought to use him.

As he stepped out of the chamber and into the open air of the Valley of Forgotten Souls, Kalen looked down at the Tome in his hands. This was the key to mastering the void, to controlling the power that had made him a target.

But it was also a key to something greater. A path to true freedom.

And Kalen was ready to walk it.